gettin' bettah!

It’s funny! I don’t EVER recall being on the fence about going out for a ride as much as I was this morning (Sat. 10/22).  EVER!!

After my absolute failure to establish any semblance of confidence (and competence?) while riding two weeks ago to and from Tellico, I was very apprehensive about jumping back into the saddle.

It wasn’t because I was afraid to die, but because my confidence was already fragile. I was worried that if I jumped on the bike and had *another* bad day, my confidence may be shattered.

Here I am, gathered up all the gear and stuff I would need for the day, and am sitting in a chair in my room trying to talk myself into going. Yeeesh! After about 10 minutes of this nonsense, and a heart-to-heart with my better half I finally to ‘man-ed up’, and headed out. 

((quick sidebar))

((Also part of that conversation …. I had packed the DSLR in case I came across any fall colors that were worth capturing. After our talk about my lack of confidence, she told me “if you wreck and ruin my camera (yes, Skip her and I still argue over it   LMAO), I would pay for it” (somehow, I don’t think she meant financially) … WOW! can you feel the love? ))
((end sidebar))

This ride would be strictly about fundamentals. Basically, it would be all about rebuilding a skill set that I believe I once had. Slow, easy, and smmmoooooooottttthhhh!!

The first road I took had some easy turns – by design – to help build up some confidence. I then jumped on the slab to get to Knoxville as I had to pick up a packet of yeast since a beer that I recently brewed never took off, likely due to bad yeast. So the game plan was to get over there grab another packet of yeast, pick up some good beer (since Newport doesn’t offer much for beer selection), and then plan out from there where I wished to go.

One of my favorite roads, which had been on the itinerary two weeks ago but never made it to, was nearby, so WTF?!? This is a 23 mile stretch of nothing but ess curves! This will either “make or break” me. The road? TN-116 – which is Rich Dluhy’s favorite road (ask him sometime).   <>

From where I was, there was no “fun” way to get to 116. Anyway, I wound my way to 116 and once there, found NO traffic to slow me down anymore than I may have already been going. However, about halfway through the run, I found a rhythm of sorts. I am not fast, but am much smoother and have built up a bit of confidence – I am no longer burning as much brake pads as I had been for the past couple rides.

Finally! I am not on the brake EVERY turn. I am hitting my lines, holding good bike posture, looking (all the way) THROUGH the turn – all things I *wasn’t* doing for the Tellico weekend. I still am not fast – read as …. not getting the heart beating nor adrenaline flowing … but I sure-as-hell am smiling!!

116 climbs two mountains which are full of technical turns, and has many easier sashes back and forth to tie the two peaks together. Left, right, left, right, all the while, I am being serenaded by the guttural sounds of that Honda V4 engine.

After a full can of Seafoam, Jitterbug is finally starting to run smoother even on that 5500 flat spot that was such an issue two weeks ago. I think one more can may fix it.

 I have a loop including 116 that I like, but have found it to be more fun to do it from the opposite direction. When 116 ended, I had two options, continue running the route in the opposite direction, or run back down to Knoxville, pick up the Dragon, and maybe use the camera that I put in such risk (as the wife coined it).

Considering the time of day, and the shortened late fall days, I decided to just run the route in reverse. There were plenty more fun turns to “play” in and help bolster whatever confidence I have built up, or just completely go backwards, should I miss a turn.

The next fun part was TN-61. I was following some Harley guy, but he was a pretty able rider and, even though he wasn’t haulin’ the mail, he was moving pretty well, so I settled in behind him. We soon came upon some slow moving traffic and it was evident he wasn’t interested in doing a DY pass, so I just put that V4 to work and skirted around him and the other vehicles and went on enjoying the curves and my newfound sense of confidence.

Zoom! Zoom! and a “yeah baby!” I was feeling pretty good!

So anyway, I got to keep that smile pasted on my face for the next 30 miles or so (not sure as the speedometer died somewhere along that run). When 61 ended, I usually would take US 11-W but I got to staring across the intersection.

Well, curiosity got the better of me – that road has to come out somewhere. Just as long as I don’t start hearing banjo music or the road turns into gravels, I aimed to find out where.

I went straight across, to find out where it wound up. There were no street signs to tell me where I was, but I kept going since I had gas and daylight.

This little exercise of curiosity actually turned out to be a shorter run than if I had gone the way intended. Additionally, it knocked out some of the long 4 lane drone that 11W tends to be.

When the road came to an end, instinct told me to turn right, but the road to the left looked more fun as it snaked uphill. So I turned northbound instead of how I should have gone, but at the time I still was unsure where I was. After a couple of the turns, I knew where I was, but I am headed the wrong way!

The last “detour” was a sidetrip along Lakeshore Rd. I used to use this as a tire scrub run because of its many nice sweeping turns. I was scooting along feeling great by this part of the run.   

I arrived home shortly before dark and was able to unpack the bike and put Jitterbug to bed in the waning rays of daylight. The evening was finished off with a couple of good beers and as I type this I am still smiling. I ain’t back yet, but I am getting’ betta’!

Rust never sleeps (pt. I)

Rust Never Sleeps

So my SME began on Thursday evening when Tim Schwab and Christopher McConnell both agreed to spend the night. That way we could leave early and ride over toward central TN. Tim arrived first and we quickly bled my brakes and then went and ran a couple errands I had to do prior to leaving.

By the time we got back CMac was here. We hung out a bit and then did the usual maggot thing – eat, drink, and tell lies through the night which passed all too quickly.

We awoke to a beautiful morning with cloudless blue skies and temps in the lower 70s. We left the house a little after 9:30 AM heading out for breakfast. I typically am not much of a breakfast guy so there isn’t much in the house to fix in the morning. I guess this makes me a bad host.

Once we had gotten to Hardee’s, I noticed that the right leg zipper of my riding suit had opened up in the middle. While Tim and CMac were eating breakfast, I fiddled with the zipper only to find that it has a bad tooth. Yippee! this weekend is off to a good start!

Tim had to replace a rear tire and we planned to get that done at Wheeler’s on 129 near the campground. However, as it was a little after 10 by now and he wanted to get to Wheeler’s around lunchtime, so we swapped the central TN route for a course due south instead.

Since I was more familiar with the area, I was put at the point. We had slabbed it to Hardee’s, so this would really be the first of the twisties of the day. I went into the first couple at a modest pace, just feeling out the brakes. Everything felt okay there so the next few I decided to wick it up a bit.

That’s when things got “screwy”. As I was accelerating out of the turn, the RPMs hit about 5500 and the engine went flat. This totally screwed up any rhythm I could muster before I ever had a chance to do so. I pulled over at the next stop and checked my plug wires. Sadly, they were all seated well.

That really set the tone for me for the rest of the weekend. Now, granted, I have not been on the bike in a while and *know* I am rusty. Yet, the progression (regression?) of bad technique that followed was rather aggravating.

I am using bad posture to “attack” the turns. I am braking in … every … turn (even ones that I had good sight lines) – whether I need to or not. I am *severely* lacking confidence. My chosen lines were okay, I think, but the execution of them sucked! Everything I did just … felt … wrong.

After a while, I give up and tell CMac and Tim to go ahead of me and have fun and I would see them at the next intersection. After all, there was no sense in all of us being miserable just because I am “off”. For the rest of the day that is how it went. I would see them at intersections. I guess my slow pace allowed them to get a couple naps in.    ; )

 We got onto the Foothills Parkway, and somehow or another, I had gotten shuffled back to the front. The Parkway is pretty tame and I was finally starting to feel a little more comfortable. Once on 129, I drifted to the back again and am back to braking at entry, and they were quickly out of sight. So much for a comfort zone!

The overlook was crowded, and I am waaaayy behind by now, so I just motored on. Apparently, they had stopped to wait on my slow ass. DOH!

I got down to Wheeler’s and they weren’t there. Surely, I am not SO slow that they have the tire on and had left already? I called up CMac because I know he likely has his cell plugged into his helmet with all his other gadgetry. Before I hit send, he and Tim pull in.

While the tire is being done, I kept fiddling with that leg zipper. No matter what I tried, nothing helped. Tim’s tire got done rather quickly and we were soon headed up the Cherahola! Alright! this is my favorite road and I *know* it rather well. This should get me some confidence back!

Or so I thought. I was unable to get anything done up there either. I am carrying less speed in the straights than I would normally be doing in the turns. We pulled into Tellico about 3-ish and ate at the Tellico café then headed over to the campground to pitch tents. The game plan was to go back out and that is exactly what I needed to do.

However, after the tents were up and gear removed from the bikes, neither Christopher nor Tim seemed inclined to go anywhere. Curtis Cavanaugh and I cooked up a plan to go do a short loop.

I also wanted to stop at Tellico Outfitters to see if I could replace my riding suit because I didn’t want to have to perform acrobatics to get in and out of my gear all weekend. Unfortunately, what he had in stock didn’t appeal to me, so acrobatics it is I guess.

 We ran up 360 with me in the lead, and while I am feeling more comfortable than earlier in the day, I am still braking prior to entering *every* turn. Gah!

At 411 Curtis suggested a different route back, so I told him to take the lead. With him in front of me, it helped deter the unnecessary overbraking I had been doing all day. We got back to the lodge in time to hang out and drink a couple beers before Lori and crew had dinner ready for us. 

Rust never sleeps (pt. II)

Prior to breakfast Saturday morning Christopher pointed out how bald my front tire was. We had looked at it before leaving the house and were pretty much in agreement that it should last through the weekend, but would definitely have to be replaced once I got back.

Well, not so much! That front was now a racing slick.

I had two options – get a new front tire or be parked all day Saturday and ‘baby’ it home on Sunday. The latter held no appeal, so I called over to Wheeler’s where we had been the day before and they had a tire my size and that it was reasonably priced.

I found out that Kent was planning a nice sedate ride over to the gap with his daughter. Sedate – ah! that’s exactly what I need. He said he didn’t mind me tagging along. The plan was that when we got to Wheeler’s, I would split off and he would continue on.

 We crossed the Cherahola at a moderate pace. The colors on the Skyway were in full swing and a moderate pace also allowed for taking in some of that beauty.

When it was time for me to pull into Wheeler’s, so did Kent. He hung out and waited until the tire was mounted.

Once mounted, we rode over towards the Tail of the Dragon. I was starting to ride better – ain’t it amazing what a new tire can do for one’s confidence? Following a smooth rider doesn’t hurt either.   ; )

The store was a zoo. I have never had to park that far away from it before. We were there for a while and I kept staring at the sign for 28 and entertaining the notion of breaking off and heading south to see where I was at confidence-wise now that I had a good tire. However, I stayed the course and continued on with Kent. I figured I could always hit 28 “on the way home” on Sunday. 

We got back to camp around 5 and I still wanted to go out briefly and test where I was at. Ed Shea was planning on taking Kent’s FJR out for a short test run up 39 and I invited myself along. Upon returning, I decided to run down 68 for a few miles just to get a couple turns in and gauge my comfort zone.

I actually did fairly well on that brief stretch. That felt good! Of course I know 68 pretty well.

Cool! I now felt pretty good about riding homewards on Sunday. The rest of the night was occupied with drinks and lies. Melissa and Eric (the entertainment) arrived around 11 or so and the party was taken to the firepit where we were regaled with song for the next hour or so. That was a great touch.

On Sunday morning, Tim and I had forged a plan to ride a bit together. I told him I had planned on hitting 28 and then turn back northeast. He was game for that. Kent and Christopher were also heading that way so we are now four bikes.

Kent and Tim went and gassed up and we were supposed to meet up with them at the Exxon. By the time CMac and I got there, they already had taken off. So we head out at a spirited pace and as long as I had Christopher in sight, I was rolling along pretty well. I was hitting the lines right and was able to keep it off of the 5500 flat spot. This felt good and by now that front tire was completely scrubbed in.

However, when he got out of sight, I began second-guessing myself again. Yeesh!

 About 20 miles out of Robbinsville, Tim was waiting at an overlook for us. Then we hooked up with Mo and Kent. CMac had some problems with a leaking hot water heater and bolted for home, but the four of us rode together along 28 for a while and then Kent and Mo split off headed southwest, while Tim and I began winding our way back northwest.

We followed 64 for most of the day. 64 is a nice road but is always slow-going. However, neither of us was in any hurry. For me, it was just good to be out riding.

We followed 64 until we hit route 9 which Tim said I would enjoy. It sure was a great road, but I still wasn’t feeling it. Here I go again, braking prior to *every* damn turn! That, coupled with that 5500 flat spot, didn’t allow me to enjoy that road as I normally would have.

I did add some Seafoam earlier in the day, but it didn’t seem to help much. More riding is needed – for the bike and for me!

Route 9 took us up into Asheville, where I split off west and he continued on north. With the sun nearly setting on the horizon, I decided to just jump on 40 and slab it home. I arrived at the house about 8:30 feeling totally spent. Every muscle was sore and I was exhausted – in a good way!

I need to get some seat time and slough off some of this rust in a big way!